Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Oct 16, 2007 – World Vegan Day Melbourne FestivalSunday the 28th of October 10am to 5pm (FREE EVENT)Phoenix Community Reserve East Malvernwww.wvd.org.au

Healthy Diet Healthy Planet

Saving the world could be as easy as eating delicious plant based meals according to a fast growing number of people (including celebrities like Alicia Silverstone, Joaquin Phoenix, Daniel Johns, and Moby) who choose a lifestyle that excludes animal products, not only in their diets, but in all aspects of their lifestyle.

The Melbourne World Vegan Day Festival is now in its 5th year and attracts around 5, 000 people and almost 80 stalls. The free entry festival aims to promote a plant based, cruelty free way of living by showcasing vegan foods, cruelty free skincare and cosmetics, health products, organic vegan wines, clothing, pet care and much more. Live music and entertainment for the whole family and free samples andgiveaways provide a colourful backdrop for the celebrations.

This year's highlights include a live performance by Steve Kilbey, ex member of the band The Church, free workshops and seminars and free makeovers using natural vegan cosmetics by an internationally experienced makeup artist.

'We're all concerned for the planet' says coordinator of the festival Mark Doneddu, a long term advocate for a plant based lifestyle 'switching to a diet based on plant foods is a smart way of reducing a host of environmental problems including water and energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, not to mention the health benefits for everyone and the animals lives saved'.

Compelling statistics on water usage alone make many rethink their diets. To produce a kilo of beef it takes 50,000 litres of water (that's equivalent to almost 1,400 four minute showers with a water saving showerhead) compare this to a kilo of rice (2,385 litres) or a litre of milk (4,000 litres) compared to a litre of orange juice (780 litres).

'We can make simple yet effective changes to the way we eat, and have a fundamentally positive impact on the health of ourselves and the planet.' Mark says.

This year, Mark and other organisers are so confident that a vegan lifestyle is the way of the future they are encouraging non vegetarians and vegans to come and experience what the World Vegan Day Festival has to offer. 'We want to challenge people's attitude to their food, where it comes from and the far reaching impacts it has, so if you're passionate about the environment, human health or social justice, an animal lover, or even just curious to know what a plant based lifestyle is all about, we invite you to come to World Vegan Day and experience it for yourself, we think you'll be more thanpleasantly surprised'.

For more information, contact Mark Doneddu on 044871 2063 or email meghan.street@gmail.com

World Vegan Day Melbourne is proudly sponsored by: Soulmama and Happy and Healthy Foods